Retooling the Cleveland Browns 4.0: Post free agency mock draft

With the first major wave of free agency done, the Cleveland Browns have made some big moves to improve the roster. The next big haul of new players should be the draft, and here’s who they could take.

Andrew Berry has been off to an incredibly hot start as the Cleveland Browns General Manager. Berry was able to sign Jack Conklin, the best offensive tackle available, Austin Hooper, the best tight end available, and Case Keenum, probably the best backup quarterback available. Right there, Berry was able to fill the right tackle, tight end, and backup quarterback holes that the Browns had last season.

With Kevin Stefanski’s offense, the team is likely to be in much more two tight-end formations than last season, so it was paramount for the team to secure another tight end to go across from David Njoku. On offense, the Cleveland Browns were also able to acquire Andy Janovich, one of the league’s best fullbacks.

What you’re seeing here is a transformation of the Browns offense. Gone are the days where the team lines up five wide and having an empty backfield, especially when they’re backed up in their red zone.

The Browns have pretty much filled up every hole on offense to fit Kevin Stefanski’s new offense. Every role besides backup wide receiver, which the team could look to fill late in the draft, or by re-signing Rashard Higgins.

On defense, the Browns were not nearly as exciting during free agency. However, they still got some good talent on team-friendly contracts. Signing Andrew Billings has filled the backup defensive tackle role, and he will likely see a ton of playing time as a one technique in the Browns defense.

Safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo are likely your starting safeties for week one of 2020, and, like Billings, are on one-year contracts. Joseph will likely fill the strong safety role, and Sendejo will likely be the free safety. I do expect, though, the team to find themselves predominantly in a 4-2-5, especially when they break down and evaluate the talent on the roster.

This means that there would still probably be a starting safety spot open, one that will be filled in this mock. Linebacker B.J. Goodson has also been signed, but it is more unclear whether he will be a week one starter.

All of the free agency additions leave the top needs for the Browns to be the following: left tackle, linebacker, safety, defensive line depth, and wide receiver depth. Let’s break down who could be available where for the Browns to fill these holes.